Dozens of distributors boycotted Ng Fung Hong on Tuesday after the company suddenly switched from a quota system of allocation to an auction process.

After the meeting, Mr Hui said they had been told that Ng Fung Hong held the auction because the new supplier, the Hong Kong Agriculture Special Zone Development Association, did the same. The association started to import live pigs last month along with Ng Fung Hong and Guangnan Hong.

'Ng Fung Hong is just following the practice of the third agent,' Mr Hui said.

But Hong Kong Agriculture Special Zone Development Association vice-chairman Choi Chi-wai said: 'Our supply only accounts for 5 per cent of the market. How can we have such a big impact on the whole market?'